New NHS training body set to develop workforce
ANEW national organisation is set to be launched which will commission, plan and develop education and training for the NHS workforce in Wales.
Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), which will come into force in April 2018, aims to enhance the professional development of staff and increase training opportunities.
It will incorporate the work of NHS Wales’ Workforce, Education and Development Services (WEDS) and the Deanery within Cardiff University.
Health Minister Vaughan Gething said: “The creation of HEIW will represent a new strategic approach to developing the Welsh health workforce for now and for the future.
“HEIW will set national expectations for the professional development of staff, but the leadership of continuing professional development for professional staff will remain with health boards and trusts. However, I want to ensure HEIW has the capacity and capability to develop and deliver training.
“I will expect HEIW to work closely with Social Care Wales in relevant areas of its work to develop an integrated view of workforce needs now and in the future across both health and social care.”
In 2014 the Welsh Government commissioned a review of investment in health professional education and workforce development.
The review was led by Mel Evans, who published a report in 2015 which made a number of recommendations – one of which was to establish a single body for enhancing the NHS workforce in Wales.
Prof Mark Drakeford, the then Minister for Health and Social Services, accepted that recommendation but said further work was required to scope out detailed proposals for the new single body.
Director of the Royal College of Nursing in Wales Tina Donnelly said: “We know that the situation around workforce planning has long been an issue of concern.
“We will want to ensure that the education, recruitment and retention of quality, professional nurses is given a priority, especially in the light of the impact that the Brexit vote has had on nursing numbers.”
Chairman of the Royal College of GPs in Wales Dr Rebecca Payne said: “We are keen to see a shifting of the budget to allow more training places to produce the GPs of the future, as well as to prioritise the training of the primary care workforce.”